Drain-valve for cylinders.



No. 698,483. n Patented Apr. 29, |902.

'f a. FAITH & T. Hook.

DRAIN VALVE FUR CYLINDERS.

.f (Application filed June 1, 1901.)

(No Model.)

.enfant /xram Uf mi and 6, conned in the two outer sections.

UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FAITH AND THOMAS HOOK, OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAIN-VALVE Fou Gruner-zus.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersfPatent No. 698,483, dated April 29, 1902. Application ined June 1.11901. serrano. 62,776. (NU man.)

THOMAS HOOK, citizens of the United States,

residing at Indiana, inl the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Drain-Valves for Cylinders, of which the following is a specification. A

Our invention relates to an improvement in drain-valves for cylinders.

In all steam-en gine cylinders it is necessary to drain olf the condensed steam, or rather water, which gathers in them in order to give full life and power to the steam, or, in other words, to allow all the space lfor the full eX- pansion of the steam, thereby giving it its original power and force. In these cylinders the condensed steam is constantly accumulating, and in order todisplace theV water it is necessary to open the petcocks frequently to drain the cylinder,'and especially is this true before starting the engine, at a loss always of many moments of valuable time.

Our present invention prevents the accumulation of condensed steam in the cylinders of pumps, as well as steam-engines, thus saving power, and consequently steam, fuel, and attendance; and with these objects in consideration our invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts,which will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing our improved drain-valve applied toa cylinder. Eig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the valve mechanism, and

Fig. 3 is cross-section.

Arepresents the valve-barrel, into the op-' posite ends of which drain-pipes lead from the outer ends of the cylinder. This barrel is preferably made in three sections screwed or otherwise joined together so that the ends l, 2, 3, and 4 form seats for the ball-valves 5 The ball-valves are centered in their respective sections of the barrel by longitudinal ribs 7 7 in the bore of the sections, so that their movements back and forth are in a straight line or path from seat `to seat. The ribs have also the further function of keeping the balls from contact with the water ordirt which would pass through the valve, thereby causing no n resistancefrom either water or dirt.

Extending loosely between the two ballvalves is a rod or needle 9, it being supported loosely in the guides lO 10, so that it is always held in the direct path of the balls opposite their centers, where the direct impact of the balls endwise thereon will cause the rod or needle to slide or move endwise, one valve always displacing the other. In other words, when the piston moves outward, for instance, the condensed steam is forced through the drain into the barrel at the adjacent end, displacing the valve at the 'outer end, so that the Water finds entrance into the barrel. The water flows through the channels made by the ribs, and` any water in the path of the valve during its inward travel is swept by the valve into the central chamber or section of the barrel, flowing out through outlet lO at the bottom. Rod 9 being forced forward ahead of the valve engages the opposite valve and displaces it, and the latter valve is forced inward by the next or return stroke of the piston, moving the rod or needle on ahead of it, displacing the valve at the right, and so on, each time causing a drainage of water from the end of the cylinder.

In the outer ends of the barrel coiled springs l2 l2 may be placed, their function beingto break the force of the balls in returning to the Outer end of the barrel. Also they lessen the noise and wear of the balls. The springs may be dispensed with altogether, although we prefer to use them for the purposesmentioned.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised a simple arrangement for ac-V complishing the purposes of the invention,

which at the same time is most effectual and perfect in the performance of the functionsl sought.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the sev-:

l. The combination with a valve barrel having springs at the opposite ends thereof, of ball-valves in position to strike the sprin gs, and a rod interposed between and in the` path of the balls for always causing the displacenient of one of the balls from its seat.

2. The combination with a valve barrel made in sections secured together the ends of the inner section forming valve-seats, and the outer sections having longitudinal ribs in their bores and cushion devices at their outer ends, of ball-valves centered between the ribs, a rod independent of these valves and interposed between them and guides for holding the rod loosely centered in the direct longitudinal path of the valves. 

